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Disposal Guide:
Batteries

Batteries range from benign alkaline cells to highly volatile lithium-ion packs. Improper disposal of rechargeable batteries is the leading cause of fires in waste management facilities.

1,095 verified facilities available nationwide

Federal Law & Regulations

Understand your legal obligations under EPA guidelines.

The Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act of 1996 is the primary federal law governing batteries. It phases out the use of mercury in batteries and mandates that rechargeable batteries (like Ni-Cd and lead-acid) must be easily removable from products and labeled for recycling. This act facilitated the creation of national, industry-funded collection programs. Lead-acid car batteries are governed under RCRA and have incredibly high recycling rates (over 99%) due to core charge laws in most states.

National Take-Back Programs

Industry-sponsored recycling and stewardship initiatives.

Call2Recycle is the premier national program for rechargeable battery recycling, offering tens of thousands of drop-off bins at retailers like The Home Depot, Lowe's, and Staples. These locations accept rechargeable batteries (Li-ion, Ni-Cd) and cell phones for free. For automotive batteries, retailers like AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts, and O'Reilly Auto Parts accept core returns and old batteries for free, often providing a store credit or gift card as an incentive.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Generally Accepted Items

A baseline of materials typically accepted by specialized facilities.

Alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D)

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries

Nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries

Federal Law & Regulations

National Take-Back Programs

Generally Accepted Items

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Disposal Guide:
Batteries